NaNoWriMo Distractions
November 17, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Writing Quotes
Are you taking part in NaNoWriMo this year? If so, then you’re probably at a point where you’d love some distraction, but you totally can’t afford the time as you’re working toward that 50,000 word deadline. Always one to be helpful, I’m offering some links to videos that focus on NaNoWriMo. That way, you can waste your time on the computer while still having some sort of legitimate claim to the idea that you’re working toward your goal. Whose got your back? That’s right. I do. If you’re a slacker, that is.
Sing It, Sister
November 16, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Videos
So, what does it take to become a novelist? There are a few things you need, according to this author who felt like she should devote an entire two-minute video to the subject. Feel free to watch it. If not, I’ll sum up: You need a beginning, a middle, and an end, as well as to sit down and write the story.
And here I thought it was all difficult and stuff.
Maybe Math Really Can Be Fun
November 12, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Videos
I’ve made no secret about the fact that I absolutely love being a freelancer. It affords me a flexible schedule, and I relish not having a boss breathing down my neck. Still, I love to see when people with “legit” jobs get creative and obviously enjoy themselves. Today’s clip is of a really fun presentation a math teacher did for his students. I can’t decide if it’s cool-cool or nerd-cool…
We Didn’t Start the Fire
November 11, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Videos
Remember that awesome Billy Joel song and how it summed up, like, a ton of history in just a couple of minutes, while simultaneously taking absolutely no responsibility for anything that has happened? That was cool, and it had a beat you could dance to, Dick.
Today I came across this video that sums up the last decade in seven minutes flat. I like the way the narrator manages to get in a few zingers, even while talking a mile a minute.
ETA: Oops, I guess it’s seven minutes and three seconds. Now how will we find the time to watch it?
What Are You Reading?
November 6, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Freelance Writing Tips
We’ve all heard the advice that if you want to be a good writer, you should also be an avid reader. I have to admit that I’ve been resting on my laurels for quite some time now. Since I received my Kindle, however, I’ve poked my head out of my shell and dived into the world of literature once again. I recently asked you all to offer suggestions for what I should read.
It went something like this: “What should I read, and why? Tell me about your favorite fiction. What classics make the world a better place by their mere existence? Fill me in on industry books I should be reading. What authors will blow my mind? What’s the best nonfiction book I’ve been missing out on for these last several years?”
Many of you jumped on board and offered some great suggestions. I thought it would make sense to list them all in one place so each of us could take advantage of the advice of our colleagues. I’ll continue to add to the list if and when more suggestions are made. I was trying to gather 100, and we have 35, not counting specific authors that were recommended.
So far, I’ve used my electronic book to read Alice Sebold’s The Almost Moon, Gregory McGuire’s Wicked, and Cami Walker’s 29 Gifts. What should I choose next? Maybe one of the following from Freelance Writing Job readers.
Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (3)
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
Closing Time by Joseph Heller
The Liar by Stephen Fry
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Tomas by James Palumbo
Choke by Chuck Palahnuik
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
Heidi Heidel
The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by J. Randy Taraborelli
Alice
The Shadow of the Wind by Carolos Ruiz Zafon
The Angel’s Game by Carolos Ruiz Zafon
Better by Atul Gawande
Complications by Atul Gawande
Unconditional Parenting aby Alfie Kohn
Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Theresa
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This House of Sky by Ivan Doig
English Creek by Ivan Doig
Rebecca by Daphne Dumaurier
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
The Chamber by John Grisham
Kirsten
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Meghna
The Japanese Wife by Kunal Basu
Mike
Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson
Journey to the center of the Earth by Jules Verne
The Bourne Trilogy by Robert Ludlum (3)
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice (second time this one was mentioned)
Authors that were also suggested:
David Sedaris
Matt Taibbi
Tony Hillerman
Jody Picoult
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
Nora Robers (as J.D. Robb)
Mary Higgins Clark
James Patterson
Janet Evonovich
Why, Yes, I Do Love My Kindle
November 5, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Book Reviews, Fun Stuff
Before I start to tell you more about my experience with the Kindle, I wanted to hit you all up for naming suggestions. It turns out that you can give your device its own name, and I haven’t come up with the perfect one yet. If you’ve got a suggestion, please leave it in the comments.
As I mentioned previously, my darling husband bought me a Kindle for my birthday. I do love my little toy, let me tell you. We’ve had some issues, and I had to get a replacement because once my battery ran all the way down, it wouldn’t start back up. I sounded so forlorn telling my hubby, “My Kindle won’t wake up.” It reminded me of some little kid who has just found his goldfish floating belly-up in the bowl.
It didn’t help matters that I was 1/3 of the way through Wicked at the time and was going to have to wait for the new one to arrive via FedEx. I know the delivery guys get all kinds of comments when they show up with packages, but this one nearly got French kissed on my front porch.
There are some things I really like about my new Kindle:
1. I can use it one-handed, which means that as long as she doesn’t realize Mama is trying to multi-task, I can read while nursing the baby.
2. I love the instant gratification that comes with being able to download a book immediately.
3. I don’t have to flip through the book to find out where I left off. (Because I’m just no good at using bookmarks.)
There are also some things I don’t like so well:
1. If you accidentally hit the “back” button, you may spend the next ten minutes trying to find your place.
2. It’s pretty easy to accidentally advance multiple pages. (I believe this was addressed with the Kindle II.)
3. Apparently, you should never let the battery run all the way down.
4. Because it is a “no-no” and has buttons, my daughter covets it to a ridiculous degree.
Really, though, I’m quite pleased with my gift. It was a refurbished unit, which means hubby didn’t pay full price, and I like that, too. Since the birth of my first child, I managed to read ZERO books. I am now on my fourth since the end of September. As odd as it sounds, I kind of feel like myself again. There was a time when you just wouldn’t find me without a book in my hand, and even though this one is electronic, that’s starting to be the case again.
I’m a Jackass
November 4, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff
So, it turns out that I’m a jackass. Not just a cute little petting-zoo burro, either; but a braying, bucking donkey of a blogger.
After four months of inventing word games, of finding hilarious videos, and of attempting to share my self-deprecating humor, I was so sad that no one seemed to be reading. My self-esteem took a nosedive, but I kept trying to put cool stuff up here because a) that’s what I was hired to do, and b) it’s fun. A lot of times, it seemed like Julia was the only one who was interested.
This little donkey threw a bit of a pity party, hee-hawing and boo-hooing to herself. After all, when I asked a community of writers for their reading suggestions (Oh, Literature. How I’ve Missed You) and only got one, I was seriously bummed. To be honest, my self-confidence took a hit right around that time. Again with the boo-hooing.
Then I got an email from Deb today. She asks if I realize that I’m supposed to be moderating the comments. Wha…? Comments? People have been commenting and I didn’t know? Sure enough, following Deb’s email was a slew of comments that she had apparently approved for me.
So, I’d like to apologize to all of you who have had something to say and feel like I’ve completely ignored you. I have, but not purposely. I appreciate that you’ve been adding your two cents’ worth, even if you weren’t getting an acknowledgement for it. I promise to make a point to check the comments and approve you as quickly as possible from here on out!
Heeeee-haaaaaaw.
Double Ds
November 3, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Games
Below you will find several sets of letters. If you add the same letter to both the beginning and the end of the group, you will have formed a real word. For example, _REA_ would become “DREAD” when a D is placed at the beginning and the end. Put your answer in the comments without looking at what other people have said.
1. _tlant_
2. _ada_
3. _eldin_
4. _illo_
Double Ds
October 26, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Games
Below you will find several sets of letters. If you add the same letter to both the beginning and the end of the group, you will have formed a real word. For example, _REA_ would become “DREAD” when a D is placed at the beginning and the end. Put your answer in the comments without looking at what other people have said.
1. _riti_
2. _awnsho_
3. _oin_
4. _oftnes_
An Afternoon Chuckle
October 22, 2009 by Lorna Doone Brewer
Filed under Fun Stuff, Videos
Usually I can make these videos and other posts somehow relate to the writing life, but I’d really have to stretch pretty thin to make that work today. Still, I thought this was pretty darn funny, even if it does have a laugh track.






